Five Alaba traders remanded in prison for pirating Nollywood movies

Five suspected pirates of Nollywood movies
have been arraigned and remanded in prison over copyright infringements.

The accused are David Chukwudi, Austin
Igboukwu, Ugochukwu Ukwuagu, Chukwuka David and Ndu Celestine.

The suspects, who allegedly committed the
offence under the guise of trading in popular Alaba Market, appeared at the
Federal High Court, Ikoyi in Lagos, charged with copyright infringement.

Chukwudi, David and Celestine were charged on
11-count charge bordering on copyright infringement and use of premises to
promote copyright infringement.

Igboukwu and Ukwuagwu were charged on 13-count
charge also bordering on copyright infringement.

In the first charge, the prosecutor, Barrister
Kehinde Oluwole from the Police Force Headquarters, Abuja, said that Chukwudi,
David and Celestine committed the offence on August 14, 2017 in the premises of
the Alaba International Market, Lagos.

He said the accused forged packets of
uncensored Nollywood films that include: “Jenifa’s Diary“, “Lord of War“, “The
Village War“, “My kids and I“, “What I want“, “Osinachi my wife’’, among
others, for illegal distribution.

Oluwole said the three suspects also engaged
in the unauthorised recording of the said works, as well as utilising their
business premises for copyright infringement.

Chukwudi, David and Celestine, however,
pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Meanwhile, Igboukwu and Ukwuagwu, who were
charged on 13-count charge bordering on similar offences, also pleaded not
guilty to the charges

They were alleged to have committed the
offences on August 12, 2017 also at a shop in Alaba International market.

Both accused were said to have flagrantly
packaged for distribution, unauthorised works that include “Proposal of Arms“,
“Sword of Justice“, “Brave Medium“, “Wedding party“, “The king’s wealth’’, “A
trip to Jamaica“ among others.

They were alleged to have packaged the works
worth millions of Naira, for illegal exhibition and distribution.

The offences contravene the provisions of
Sections 58 of the Nigerian Films and Video Censor Board Act, 2004 and Section
20 of the Copyright Act, Cap 28, Laws of The Federation, 2004.

Justice Hassan also ordered all five suspects
to be remanded in prison.